Discuss the significance of guilt in Gilgamesh, the Old Testament, The Odyssey, and Oedipus the King. You may define "guilt" as "remorse for one's actions" (feeling guilty) and/or "the state of having committed a crime or transgression" (being guilty). Focus in particular on the power of guilt (however you define it) in shaping or influencing character or event. From that point, comment on the extent to which guilt can be a shaping influence in the larger theme(s) of the literary works.
My answer: An example of guilt can be seen in the Epic of Gilgamesh where when after Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed the Bull of Heavens and disrespected the female Goddess Ishtar, the Gods decided that one of them must die as a means of punishment and chose Enkidu to be the one to perish. Upon the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh felt guilty and wanted to remove the remorse feeling that he is experiencing by seeking a way to become immortal. After his attempts of becoming immortal failed, Gilgamesh realized that the only way to honor Enkidu’s death and to clear his guilt feelings was for Gilgamesh to rule with kindness and greatness. Another significance of guilt can be seen also in the epic as the Gods, having caused the great flood to wipe out all men became guilty of the terrible act that they did that they granted Utnapishtim and his wife immortality in exchange of their guilt.
In the Odyssey, guilt is also shown here in the part where Demodocus sings about the final destruction of Troy. Odysseus was the one responsible for planning the attack using the Trojan horse as a deception and which resulted to the ultimate destruction of Troy. When Odysseus heard that Demodocus knows the true story, Odysseus began to feel guilty and wept. The weeping of Odysseus was described by Homer.
Am I on the right track?
An example of guilt can be seen in the Epic of Gilgamesh where<~~delete "where" when<~~add comma after Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed the Bull of Heavens and disrespected<~~To use the word "disrespect" as a verb is quite the slang these days; better to say "showed disrespect to" the female Goddess Ishtar, the gods decided that one of them<~~one of whom? must die as a means of punishment and chose Enkidu to be the one to perish.<~~This sentence is too long; please divide it correctly into at least two sentences. Upon the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh felt guilty and wanted to remove his remorse by seeking a way to become immortal. After his attempts at becoming immortal failed, Gilgamesh realized that the only way to honor Enkidu’s death and to clear his guilt was to rule with kindness and greatness.
Another example of guilt can be seen also<~~delete "also" in the epic as the gods, having caused the great flood to wipe out all men, felt so guilty for this terrible act that they granted Utnapishtim and his wife immortality in exchange of their guilt<~~delete "in exchange...guilt" -- it's redundant.
Guilt is also shown in The Odyssey when Demodocus sings about the final destruction of Troy. Odysseus was the one responsible for planning the attack using the Trojan horse as a deception which resulted in the ultimate destruction of Troy. When Odysseus heard that Demodocus knows<~~change to "knew" since all the other verbs are in past tense the true story, Odysseus began to feel guilty, and he wept. The weeping of Odysseus was described by Homer.<~~unfinished???
These three examples are good so far. Be sure to go in and add detail wherever you can. Read it aloud to someone who has never read either work, and mark wherever they seem puzzled or ask, "What?" Those are the places where you need to add explanation.
Please repost when you've finished and want more input.
=)
Yes, you have correctly identified examples of guilt in the works you mentioned and discussed their significance. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, guilt plays a significant role in shaping Gilgamesh's character and actions. His guilt over Enkidu's death drives him to embark on a quest for immortality. However, he ultimately realizes that he can honor Enkidu's death and ease his guilt by ruling with kindness and greatness. This highlights the power of guilt in influencing character development and actions.
Similarly, in the Odyssey, guilt is depicted through Odysseus' reaction to Demodocus' song about the destruction of Troy. Odysseus feels guilty for his role in the deception that led to the downfall of Troy and weeps as a result. This demonstrates how guilt can shape and influence a character's emotional state and response to past actions.
In both works, guilt serves as a motivating factor and a catalyst for character development. It pushes the characters to reflect on their actions and seek redemption or strive for a better future. This suggests that guilt can be a shaping influence in the larger themes of these literary works, such as the pursuit of immortality in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the journey of self-discovery and homecoming in the Odyssey.
Yes, you are on the right track in discussing the significance of guilt in these literary works. You have provided examples that illustrate how guilt shapes or influences the characters and events in each story.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh's guilt over Enkidu's death drives him to seek immortality and ultimately transforms him into a more compassionate and wise ruler. This highlights the power of guilt in shaping Gilgamesh's character development and his understanding of his own actions.
Furthermore, the guilt felt by the gods in the Epic of Gilgamesh, after causing the great flood, leads them to grant Utnapishtim and his wife immortality as a way of making amends. This shows how guilt can influence the gods' decisions and actions within the story.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus feels guilty when he hears the bard singing about the destruction of Troy, as he was responsible for the idea of the Trojan horse that led to the city's downfall. This guilt reveals Odysseus' remorse for his actions and contributes to his character's complexity and the internal struggles he faces throughout his journey.
Overall, guilt plays a significant role in these literary works by shaping the characters' actions, motivations, and transformations. It serves as a driving force behind their decisions and contributes to the larger themes of personal growth, redemption, and the consequences of one's actions.